Joshua 3: 9-13 “Then Joshua told the Israelites, “Come closer and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” He said, “You will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly dispossess before you the Canaanites, Hethites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth goes ahead of you into the Jordan. Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, come to rest in the Jordan’s water, its water will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand up in a mass.”” // God will deal with your challenges, don’t fear the giants- that caused them to stop years ago. How are the giants you need God to manage today? Keep the ark in sight, and follow a small group of leaders (you might consider a small group for your spiritual journey). Step out, Keep your eyes on God, and wait for His intervention.
Joshua 3:5-7 “Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.” // The holy expectation is what Joshua encouraged before the people. Look to God, expect something great, and wait. Consecrate, be thoughtful, offer yourself to God’s purpose today, and Let God lead; it helps remind us 20 times a day. The priests were not to avoid the challenge. Someone invited them to walk right in today’s challenge. Don't avoid what you hear God commanding- walk straight in…
Listening to a TED talk this week about doing 100 push ups every day for the last 5 Years! How?! 5 at a time 20 times a day…. it has become a life style of focus and purpose. Think of Israel watching the ark- how do you watch the ark and still get your daily work done? Frequent check in, pause the stuff of the day - maybe 20 times a day and ask where do I see God, How is God leading me today, or how is God using me today. Casting a net, or stepping into something holly and new- calls of frequent focus on God. How about 100 look ups today?
Joshua 3:1-4: Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits[a] in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Stepping into a new experience Joshua told the people to set their eyes on the ark. Expecting something new in your life how might you focus more clearly on Jesus? Why are they to watch and still keep a respectful distance, how deep is your respect of God today? Moving ahead let's think about focus and respect.
John 21: 5-6: Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. After the death of Jesus the disciple returned to what they knew best, but it wasn’t working out too good. What long journey have you been on, and what might you be tempted to leave? Jesus did the impossible for them, what impossible need do you have ink this season of life? How long has it been since you were totally dependent on Jesus, what would that look like today?
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
It is better to trust in the LORD than to depend on people. 9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to depend on human leaders.
And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock."
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
